Medicines - safety issues

When used properly, medicines (including prescription, over-the-counter and complementary) help keep us well. However, about 140,000 Australians are admitted to hospital every year because of problems associated with the use of medicines, including side effects and other reactions. It is important to make sure you take your medicines correctly.

Common causes of side effects
Some of the causes of side effects from medicines include:

• Failing to take the dose correctly (for example, at the right time of day or with food or drinks)
• Overdosing
• Allergies to chemical components of the medicine
• Combining the medicine with alcohol or certain foods (for example, some older types of antidepressants can cause life-threatening side effects when combined with cheeses and a range of other foods)
• Taking other medicines (including complementary or non-prescription medicines available for purchase over-the-counter), illicit drugs or other preparations that interact with the medicine
• Taking medicines stored at home but no longer prescribed
• Taking a medicine that was prescribed for someone else.

• Drink heavily
• Are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive
• Are very young or elderly
• Are known to be allergic to particular medicines
• Have a stomach condition
• Have kidney, liver or cardiac (heart and blood vessel) disease.

• What is the appropriate dosage – how much should I take, how often should I take it and at what times of day?
• Should I take the medicine on a full or empty stomach?
• Do I need to swallow the pills whole or can they be crushed or chewed?
• What should I do if I miss a dose?
• For how long should I take the medication?
• Are there problems with taking the medicine if I have a particular condition?
• What are the possible side effects, such as drowsiness, and how can I manage these?
• What are the signs and symptoms of serious reactions that I need to watch out for?
• Are there potential interactions with other medicines I take or may take?
• Can I have a Consumer Medicine Information leaflet?

• Tell your doctor and other health professionals about any supplements you are taking. Many herbal preparations are as powerful as pharmaceutical drugs and may cause side effects on their own or if used in combination with other medicines or in certain conditions.
• Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, the strength of herbal preparations may not be assured. Make sure you seek advice from a suitably qualified professional.
• Don’t self-diagnose. See a health professional for diagnosis and treatment if you suspect you need to take supplements.
• Taking ‘mega-doses’ of vitamins or minerals can be hazardous. Only use the recommended dose.
• Use all supplements strictly as directed or according to your health professional’s recommendations.

• If you are not certain that you can remember the dosage instructions, write them down, ask your pharmacist to write them down or ask your doctor or pharmacist about a dose administration aid (like a Dosette box). This is particularly important if you are taking more than one medicine.
• If your prescription medicines are crucial for your health and wellbeing, consider carrying a list of your medicines and their dosage instructions with you in case of an emergency or if you are admitted to hospital.
• Read all the labels on the container carefully before you use the medicine. Do this with every medicine.
• Read the Consumer Medicine Information.
• Regularly clear out your medicine cabinet and dispose of any medicine that is past its use-by date or that you no longer use. These medicines can be returned to your local community pharmacy for disposal.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a Consumer Medicine Information leaflet that tells you about your medicine and how to take it.

• Keep your medicines in their original containers.
• Don’t remove the labels from containers – they include important instructions on how to store your medicine and expiry dates.
• Store medicines out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry place.
• Some medicines need to be refrigerated – if you leave them out of the fridge by accident or they freeze, check with your pharmacist whether they should be thrown out or used within a certain time.

• Ask your pharmacist to package your medicines in childproof containers, if possible.
• Keep medicines locked in cupboards or concealed in the fridge out of children’s sight and reach.
• Only remove a medicine from its packaging when you are ready to take it – do not leave it lying around for a child to pick up and take.
• If your handbag contains medicines, make sure to keep your bag out of children’s reach.
• Try to avoid taking tablets in front of your children, as they may want to imitate you.

• In an emergency, call triple zero (000) for an ambulance
• Poisons Information Centre Tel. 131 126 – 24-hour emergency service, if you think someone has ingested (swallowed or taken into their body) a poison or taken an overdose
• Adverse Medicines Events (AME) Line Tel. 1300 134 237
• Medicines Line Tel. 1300 888 763 – for information on prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines
• Your doctor
• Your pharmacist

• Some of the causes of serious side effects include taking the medicines incorrectly, combining them with alcohol or using medicines prescribed for someone else.
• Make sure your doctor and other health professionals know about every medicine you take, including prescription, non-prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and complementary medicines such as vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements.
• Keep all medicines out of children’s reach.
• Dispose of unwanted or out-of-date medicines by returning them to your local community pharmacy – never give any of your medicines to other people.

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